University of North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick was blunt in addressing speculation he’s interested in the New York Giants head coaching job.
When asked what his message was to his team amid the rumors in a Tuesday, November 12, press conference, Belichick, 73, replied, “Getting ready for Wake Forest, that’s all I got this week.” (The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are the Tar Heels’ next opponent in a game scheduled for Saturday. November 15.)
The Giants job opened on Monday, November 10, when the organization fired Brian Daboll, who was in his fourth season at the helm. Daboll, 50, had a 20-40-1 record in New York and was just 2-8 so far in 2025. The Giants have not made the playoffs since his first season.
Belichick, for his part, is arguably the most accomplished coach in NFL history, having won six Super Bowls as head coach of the New England Patriots and an additional two as an assistant. He became head coach of the Tar Heels in 2024 after the university fired Mack Brown.
Bill Belichick’s UNC Salary Revealed: Inside His Contract
“I’ve been asked about it from time to time,” Belichick later added during Tuesday’s press conference. “Look I’ve been down this road before. I’m focused on Wake Forest, that’s it. That’s my commitment to this team. This week it’s Wake Forest, next week it’s that opponent and so forth. I’m here to do the best for this team.”
With Belichick seemingly uninterested in publicly entertaining the thought of coaching the Giants, all eyes now turn to Giants assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, Mike Kafka, who will serve as interim head coach.
“The past few seasons have been nothing short of disappointing, and we have not met our expectations for this franchise,” president John Mara and chairman Steve Tisch said in a joint statement announcing the coaching change. “We understand the frustrations of our fans, and we will work to deliver a significantly improved product.”
As for North Carolina, the Tar Heels are just 4-5 on the season but have won their last two games. They most recently took down the Stanford Cardinal at home, 20-15, on Saturday, November 8.
Parents Claim Bill Belichick’s ‘Toxic Environment’ Is Ruining UNC Football
Despite Belichick’s insistence that he is committed to North Carolina, rumors have circulated about his potential return to the NFL since before he even coached a game in Chapel Hill. The speculation reached a boiling point in October when the Tar Heels were in the midst of a four-game losing streak.
That’s when The Guardian reported that Belichick had “discussed buyout options with North Carolina’s hierarchy” and “signaled a willingness to trigger his own $1 million buyout if he can find a soft landing with another team or in media.”
The report also alleged that members of his staff were already in touch with other schools expected to be in the College Football Playoff about potentially joining their coaching staffs during the postseason.
That caused Belichick and North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham to release separate statements dispelling the rumors.
“I’m fully committed to UNC football and the program we’re building here,” Belichick said at the time.
“Coach Belichick has the full support of the Department of Athletics and University,” added Cunningham, 63.
